Experts unite on hill ecology: June 25, 2004

In a program to the commemorate year 2004 as the year of Scientific Awareness, experts working in the central and eastern region of Darjeeling have decided to work jointly to improve ecological condition of the region.

Uma Malkhani of Govind Vallabh Pant University said that the reasons behind these problems are the excess use of firewood, fodder source and removal of non-timber forest products. She also said that another hindrance is the lack of proper documentation about the area.

There were some positive suggestions including one to move the Himalayan Study Centre from North Bengal University to Darjeeling or to establish a new study centre in Darjeeling. This is the result of the resolution passed by the experts about the establishment of a mountain study centre in Darjeeling.

Another major problem of the concerned region is the scarcity of water especially during the summer months. Famous environmentalist Mr. Harish Mukhia suggested the only remedy to this problem is water harvesting. It is decided that the Darjeeling Municipality will soon be requested to implement water harvesting schemes. Mr. Diwedi also added that the educational institutes of Darjeeling will also be told to promote their own harvesting schemes. Darjeeling Municipality will also be requested that the houses which has its own provisions for water harvesting should only be given the municipal sanction.

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